Eating carotenoid-rich fruits and vegetables found to reduce symptoms of systemic inflammation

A study suggests that consuming fruits and vegetables rich in carotenoids can improve systemic inflammation. The study, which was published in the journal Nutrition Research, looked at the association between different doses of carotenoid-rich fruits and vegetable intake, plasma carotenoids, and inflammatory markers.

• Researchers from the U.S. hypothesized that the intake of carotenoid-rich fruits and vegetables would have a beneficial effect on systemic inflammation status.
• To test this hypothesis, the researchers fed healthy, non-obese individuals with a low-carotenoid diet for six weeks.
• Then, they gave them a carotenoid-rich diet for eight weeks.
• The researchers measured pro-inflammatory cytokines and plasma carotenoids at baseline, in the sixth week, and at the end of the eight-week feeding period.
• The results showed that when the participants followed a carotenoid-rich diet, their concentrations of carotenoids in the blood also increased.
• The consumption of a carotenoid-rich diet also resulted in significant decreases in inflammatory markers, such as macrophage inflammatory protein-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and increased concentrations of interferon-alpha-2.

These findings suggest that consuming fruits and vegetables rich in carotenoids may be important in the management of inflammation in the body.

To read more studies on the health benefits of eating fruits and vegetables, visit FoodIsMedicine.com.

Journal Reference:

Jahns L, Conrad Z, Johnson LK, Whigham LD, Wu D, Claycombe-Larson KJ. A DIET HIGH IN CAROTENOID-RICH VEGETABLES AND FRUITS FAVORABLY IMPACTS INFLAMMATION STATUS BY INCREASING PLASMA CONCENTRATIONS OF IFN- ? 2 AND DECREASING MIP-1 ? AND TNF- ? IN HEALTHY INDIVIDUALS DURING A CONTROLLED FEEDING TRIAL. Nutrition Research. April 2018; 52: 98-104. DOI: 10.1016/j.nutres.2018.02.005